Marking chalk sharpening device



April 14, 1964 H. L. WAX 3,128,747

MARKING CHALK SHARPENING DEVICE Filed June 25, 1962 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 ilnventor Herber't fL. 'WKX Attorney April 14, 1964 I H. L. WAX 3,128,747

MARKING CHALK SHARPENING DEVICE Filed June 25, 1962 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 Inventor Herbert L yl Ax f -ww n April 14, 1964 H. L. WAX 1 3,128,747 MARKING CHALK SHARPENING DEVICE Filed June 25, 1962 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 Inventor Herbert L. WAX

Attorney United States Patent 3,128,747 MARKING CHALK SHARPENING DEVICE Herbert L. Wax, 543 Chester St, Mount Royal, Quebec, Canada Filed June 25, 1962, Ser. No. 204,813 3 Claims. (Cl. fill-96) This invention relates to an apparatus for sharpening tailors chalk.

To function properly, tailors chalk must have a sharp marking edge. Sharpening chalk consumes an important fraction of the time spent by operators in a cutting up establishment. Means for performing this operation mechanically have, for one reason or other, not met with commercially wide acceptance. It is, therefore, an aim of thep resent invention to provide an apparatus for sharpening tailors chalk which is effective for the purpose and sufficiently economical to be a practical investment.

Briefly, an apparatus according to the invention includes a housing and, mounted within the housing, a

motor driving a rotary cutting head, and means for guiding the chalk within access of the cutting head. More specifically, the latter means includes a guideway along which the chalk is run to within access of the cutting head, including adjustable platforms leading close to the blades support the chalk as it is drawn across the cutting head. The guideway is mounted for vertical movement, to adjust its position with respect to the cutting head.

In a specific embodiment, the adjustable platforms are a pair of tongues. These tongues are mounted on a pair of parallel angle irons, the ilanges of which define the sides of the guideway, the angle irons rest on a pair of keel members connected to them and projecting downwardly at spaced apart positions, the keel members having faces which are at an angle to the track in the longitudinal plane thereof. The keel members bear against the sloping faces of a pair of pedestals which in turn are mounted on a frame in the housing. Means are provided for moving the pedestals in a horizontal direction so that their sloping faces push against the bearing surfaces of the keel members, so that the guideway is moved up and down always parallel and in horizontal alignment. The apparatus has been described with the track in horizontal plane. This, of course, could be varied, with the track in a vertical or other plane, but the most convenient arrangement is in the horizontal plane.

Another feature of the invention is the manner in which the apparatus is housed. The motor is in one part of the housing and the cutting head in another part. A bafile separates the two parts of the housing and an oil seal surrounds the shaft of the motor where it passes through the housing. Means is provided on the drive shaft to throw the wax coming from the cutting head, away from the motor and into a receptacle beneath the cutting head. Preferably this mechanism includes a sleeve mounted on the drive shaft, provided with an outwardly extending shoulder having an undercut face, facing in the direction of the cutting head, and a portion tapering inwardly from the shoulder towards the cutting head.

Preferably the cutting head is provided with a pair of cutting wheels each made up of a plurality of circumferentially spaced apart blades, the chalk being held between the blades of the respective wheels by the tongues of the guideway.

Detailed Description Having thus generally described the invention, it will be referred to in more detail by reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIGURE 1 is a top plan view of a preferred chalk sharpening device according to the invention.

FIGURE 2 is an end elevation of the device shown in FIGURE 1.

FIGURE 3 is a fragmentary cross-section along the line 33 of FIGURE 1 showing particularly the cutting blades.

FIGURE 4 is a fragmentary plan view showing the relationship between the gap-adjusting tongues and the cutting blades.

FIGURE 5 is a vertical cross-section along the line 5-5 of FIGURE 1, partly in elevation.

FIGURE 6 is a fragmentary penspective view, of the adjustable chalk guiding carriage.

FIGURE 7 is a vertical cross-section along the line 7-7 of FIGURE 6.

FIGURE 8 is a transverse cross-section along the line 88 of FIGURE 1 partly in elevation.

' FIGURE 9 is a horizontal-diagonal cross-section along the line 99 of FIGURE 8.

More particular reference will now be made to the drawings.

A represents the housing, which, in this particular embodiment, is an aluminum casting. However, the nature of the casing need not be limited to any particular material or any particular type of fabrication. The housing A has an upper part 14 and a base part 15 resting on legs 17, onto which it fits as shown, to form a complete enclosure for the mechanism proper. A mounting plate 19 rests on the base 15 through feet 2.1. Screws 23 run right through the plate I19, the feet 21 and the base 15.

A mounting bracket 25 rests on the floor of the base part 15 and has upwardly extending arms 25a and 2% carrying at their upper ends bearings 2'7 and 2 9 which journal projecting necks 31 and 33 of the housing of the motor M. Projecting from the motor M is a drive shaft 35. Mounted on the shaft 35 is a sleeve 41 of the form shown having a cylindrical part 41a surrounding the shaft 35 of the motor. The part 41a merges into an outwardly tapering part 41b terminating in an undercut annular shoulder 41c. The shoulder 41c meets an inwardly tapering collar 41d leading to a cylindrical part 41:: of reduced diameter. On the cylinder part lie is mounted a sharpening Wheel made up of a hub 45 and outwardly projecting spaced apart respective gangs of peripherally spaced apart blades R and S. The wheels R and S have innerfaces 47 angled to the axis of the Wheels and each termimating in a cutting edge. The tapered parts 41b, 41c, and 41a centrifugal force acts to throw the shavings away from the parts 41, 41b, 41c and 41d and in the direction away from the motor housing.

A chalk guiding carriage C is made up of a pair of elongated angle irons 51 and 53 forming between them a chalk guiding slot 52. On the underside of the angles 51 and 53, are adjustably mounted metal gate members 55 and 57 ending in tapered tongues 58 and 60 which are movable longitudinally of the angles 51 and 53. The angle 51 is provided with an opening 51a and the angle 53 with a corresponding opening 53a providing a gap to receive the blades R and S. Underneath the members 55 and 57 respectively are base plates 61 and 63 which carry downwardly extending fins or keel members 65 and 67 respectively, having sloping lower faces 65a and 67a.

A mounting beam 71 is carried on feet 73 and 75 which rest on inward projections '77 and '79 of the base part 15 of the housing A. Slidably related to the underside of the beam 71 is an adjusting bar 31. Screws 83 and 85 located in holes in the bar 81 extend upwardly through slots S7 and 8? in the beam 71, their upper ends engaging blocks 93 and 95. The upper faces of the blocks 93 and 95 are sloping and provided with grooves 97 and 99, which receive respectively the fins 65 and 67 of the carriage C.

Sliding movement horizontally of the fins 65 and 67 in the grooves 97 and 99 causes the carriage C to move up and down in a horizontal plane. The movement of the carriage C is controlled by a screw arrangement including a shaft 161 which is journalled in an opening 103 in the casing A and is provided at one end with a handle 195 outside the casing A, the other with a tapped part 107, which engages in a tapped sleeve 109, which is pivotally connected as at 111, to the block 95. Tension is maintained on the threadably engaged assembly by spring 118 fitting over shaft 101 and being compressed between inside wall of casing and sleeve 109. Rotation of the handle 105 in one direction or the other, causes movement of the member 99 either to the right or left (looking at FIGURE 8). This movement causes upward or downward movement of the carriage C with its upper surface always in a horizontal plane. Springs 113 and 115 etxend between the fins 65 and 67, respectively, and the bar 71, to pull the fins against the slots 97 and 99. Springs 117 and 119 extend between the pin to pull the carriage C and a post towards the left on the beam 71 (looking at FIGURE 8), so that the movement of the carriage to the right is against the action of the spring 117.

A bafile 121 fits in a slot 123 in the cover and base parts 14, 15 and intervenes the part of the housing which contains the motor and that part of the housing that contains the cutting apparatus proper. An oil seal member 125 is provided about the sleeve 41, and is held in place by the neoprene baflle 121 and sleeve 37. The seal 125, the bafile 121 and the action of the parts 41b, 41c, and 41d tend to keep the chalk from getting into the motor housing. Leaf springs (not shown) in the slot 123 hold the baffle in place.

Operation To set up the device for operation, the following steps are taken. The members 55 and 57 are adjusted to place their tongues 58 and 6% in proper relation to the opening 151a and the cutter Wheels R and S before the machine is shipped from the plant. The adjustment of these tongues takes care of discrepancies in manufacture of the blades R and S, in alignment of the parts, etc. The plate 31 is mounted on the beam 71 and limit pins 72 and 74 inserted in the beam 71 so as to limit the movement of the plate 81 in either direction, and thus limit the upward and downward movement of the carriage C within a predetermined range. The machine is now ready to operate.

Switching on the power, causes the motor M to rotate the cutters R and S. The operator runs the chalk from one side of the guideway 52 to the other across the blades moving it from right to left looking at FIGURE 1. As the chalk passes across the opening between the tongues 55 and 57, it is held by the latter from downward movement but at the same time is subjected to the action of the blades which sharpen the chalk by shaving it diagonally on each side. The tongues are relatively sharp pointed and project between the blades R and S so as to support the chalk close to the blades as it is guided between them along the guideway.

Adjustment of the carriage up and down in the manner described, provides for making the chalk sharper or blunter, as desired.

The shavings from the chalk are thrown down into the receptacle drawer 131 which is slidably mounted in the housing, as for example, s town in FIGURE 8. The

drawer 131 has upwardly extending sides 133 which engage inwardly projecting rails 135 which engage the underside of the outwardly sloping walls 133. The tray 131 can thus be pulled out and emptied periodically. Also, the housing is provided with louvres in its ends as shown with holes in the bottom so as to create a flow of air to cool the motor. It is imperative that the heat be kept away from the cutting chamber since the chalk is Waxy and Will melt if subjected to high temperatures.

The material from which the various structural parts may be made will be obvious to anyone skilled in the art. The blades, for best service, should be made of high carbon steel so that they will not have to be sharpened.

The baffle 121 is of heat-resistant material, for example,

neoprene, which insulates the cutting chamber and drives the heat back through the louvres 20 in the housing.

The nature of the marking chalk to which the present apparatus is best adapted will be well understood by one skilled in the art. This so-called chalk is a relatively waxy material and, as will be understood from the specification, the prcsent apparatus is particularly adapted for handling such material.

I claim:

1. An apparatus for sharpening tailors chalk, comprising in combination, a cutting wheel having axially spacedapart gangs of blades adapted to receive chalk therebetween for sharpening, means for driving said wheel, chalk-supporting-and-guiding means comprising an elongated guideway including spaced apart angle members forming therebetween the lateral boundaries of the guideway, said angle members having registering cut out portions adjacent to said wheel providing a gap for access to said wheel of chalk supported by the guideway, a pair of adjustable members mounted on said angle members each having a tongue projecting into said opening to provide chalk-supporting platforms close to the cutting blades, and means for raising and lowering said guideway to adjust its height relation to said wheel.

2. An apparatus for sharpening tailors chalk, comprising in combination, a cutting wheel having axially spaced apart gangs of blades adapted to receive chalk therebetween for sharpening, means for driving said Wheel, chalk-supporting-and-guiding means comprising an elongated guideway having a gap therein adjacent to said cutting wheel to provide access to said wheel of chalk supported thereby, said guideway including a pair of spaced apart keel members each having a surface in the longitudinal plane of the guideway at an angle to the surface thereof, the keel members being parallel to each other, a rigidly mounted support member, spaced apart pedestals on said support member having outer sloping surfaces for receiving the said keel member surfaces, means for adjusting said pedestal members in the longitudinal direction of the guideway, thereby to cause upward and downward movement of said keel members and thus of said guide way in a vertical direction with the guideway always in the same horizontal plane.

3. An apparatus for sharpening tailors chalk, comprising in combination, a cutting wheel having axially spaced apart gangs of: blades adapted to receive chalk therebetween for sharpening, means for driving said wheel, chalk-supporting-and-guiding means comprising an elongated guideway having a gap therein adjacent to said cutting whecl for access to said wheel of chalk supported thereby, said guideway including a pair of spaced apart keel members each having a surface in the longitudinal plane of the guideway at an angle to the surface thereof, the keel members being parallel to each other, a rigidly mounted support member, spaced apart pedestals on said support member having outer sloping surfaces for receiving the said keel member surfaces, first spring means urging said keel members against said pedestals, second spring means urging said. keel members in the longitudinal direction of the guideway, screw means for adjusting the position of said pedestal members in the longitudinal direction against the action of said second spring means whereby the keel members may be adjusted relative to the cutting wheel thereby to adjust the guideway with reference to said cutting wheel.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,486,570 Fine et a1. Mar. 11, 1924 FOREIGN PATENTS Germany Feb. 6, 1940 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE CERTIFICATE OF CORRECTION Patent No. 3,128fl47 April 14, 1964 Herbert L, Wax

It is hereby certified that error appears in the above numbered patent requiring correction and that the said Letters Patent should read as corrected below.

Col umn 6 under the headingFOREIGN PATENTSM strike out "2,189,476 Germany Feb, 6, 1940" and insert instead 425, 19; Germany Feb, 17,, 1926 Signed and sealed this 4th day of August 1964 (SEAL) Attest:

ERNEST W. SWIDER' EDWARD J BRENNER Attesting Officer Commissioner of Patents 

1. AN APPARATUS FOR SHARPENING TAILOR''S CHALK, COMPRISING IN COMBINATION, A CUTTING WHEEL HAVING AXIALLY SPACEDAPART GANGS OF BLADES ADAPTED TO RECEIVE CHALK THEREBETWEEN FOR SHARPENING, MEANS FOR DRIVING SAID WHEEL, CHALK-SUPPORTING-AND-GUIDING MEANS COMPRISING AN ELONGATED GUIDEWAY INCLUDING SPACED APART ANGLE MEMBERS FORMING THEREBETWEEN THE LATERAL BOUNDARIES OF THE GUIDEWAY, SAID ANGLE MEMBERS HAVING REGISTERING CUT OUT PORTIONS ADJACENT TO SAID WHEEL PROVIDING A GAP FOR ACCESS TO SAID WHEEL OF CHALK SUPPORTED BY THE GUIDEWAY, A PAIR OF ADJUSTABLE MEMBERS MOUNTED ON SAID ANGLE MEMBERS EACH HAVING A TONGUE PROJECTING INTO SAID OPENING TO PROVIDE CHALK-SUPPORTING PLATFORMS CLOSE TO THE CUTTING BLADES, AND MEANS FOR RAISING AND LOWERING SAID GUIDEWAY TO ADJUST ITS HEIGHT RELATION TO SAID WHEEL. 